Overview
Understanding what a gene does often begins with seeing what happens when it's missing. Knockout (KO) mouse models are among the most fundamental tools in biomedical research, allowing scientists to eliminate a gene's function and observe the resulting effects on physiology, behavior, and disease development.
What Is a Knockout Mouse?
A knockout mouse is a genetically engineered organism in which a target gene has been permanently disrupted or deleted in every cell of the body. This is typically achieved by replacing part or all of the gene's coding sequence with a nonfunctional segment of DNA during embryonic stem (ES) cell targeting.
Types of Knockout Models
Constitutive (conventional) knockouts permanently inactivate the gene in all tissues throughout life. Conditional knockouts (cKO) use site-specific recombination (e.g., Cre-lox) to inactivate the gene only in specific tissues or at specific developmental stages.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between a knockout and a knockdown model?
A knockout completely eliminates gene function through targeted deletion or disruption, while a knockdown model reduces gene expression without fully abolishing it.
How long does it take to generate a knockout mouse model?
A typical knockout mouse project takes approximately 6 to 8 months from design to delivery, depending on complexity and validation requirements.
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